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Lazarus Stewart, Sr. - Hypothesis: [1] Lazarus line of descent from Robert II, King of Scots, [2] How Lazarus received his name

Started by George Raymond Freeman on Wednesday, February 5, 2025
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All,

I have two working hypotheses that I would like to run by you. The first is a reasoned conjecture on how “Lazarus Stewart 1683-1744” fits into the Stewart Bute line. The second conjecture is how Lazarus received his name.

The approach I created for this study was as follows:

[1] Based on the reasoned assumption that Lazarus was a descendant of “Ballintoy Stewarts,” find a Stewart Ballintoy family unit whose documented family names match the derived naming pattern of Lazarus’ descendants. NOTE: Ballintoy Stewarts (in Northern Ireland) are confirmed descendants of "Sir John Stewart Sheriff of Bute, Arran and Cumbrae 1356-1441."

[2] Reconcile the naming of “Lazarus.” It is unlikely that Lazarus changed his name, as many have speculated, as Lazarus gave his name for a legal deed transfer and in court (reference the recent document findings). Thus, any Ballintoy family unit connection must have at least conjectured accounting for the naming of Lazarus.

[3] Search for DNA evidence of any chosen family unit by searching for trace autosomal evidence of paternal lineage of the maternal-named line (and its variants) against the profiles I manage on Ancestry.com. Having no trace evidence cancels out the possibility of a match.

I designed these three prongs to help me cancel out family lines more than find them, hoping that if a line withstood these tests, it would be worth investigating further.

Results:

As I have mentioned in a previous thread, two of Lazarus’s children (John and James) named their first son “William” and their second son “Lazarus.” Since we understand Lazarus is their “Father’s father,” and we have no “William” in the known children of Lazarus, we have a reasonable expectation to believe that Lazarus also had a son named “William” but that this son did not survive childhood—based on patterning, this would likely be his second son.

If we hold that supposition and extend it further by “believing that the William and Margaret Stewart” found in the back-to-back deeds from “December 10th, 1712 in the Parish of Lifford” were the parents of Lazarus, we can hypothesize that Lazarus and his children followed a modified “Parental” naming pattern as generally follows:

--- Son’s
- The first son was named after his father’s father, father.
- The next son was named after his father’s father.
- The next son was named after his father.
- The following sons were named after their father’s brothers.
- However, if there were a demand for a maternally named son, it would occur anywhere after the first son.

--- Daughter’s
- The first daughter was named after her mother’s mother.
- The next daughter was named after her father’s mother.
- The third daughter was named after her mother.
- The following daughters were named after their mother’s sisters.

Under the above premise, Lazarus’s children would align as follows per the above (understanding that there was likely a son named “William” born between John and Lazarus):

- John Stewart (1712-1777), named for his father’s father, father
- Margaret Stewart (1714-1796), named for her mother’s mother
- Margery Stewart (1716-?), named for her father’s mother
- Lazarus Stewart (1718-1779), named for his father
- Peter Stewart (1720-1784), named for his father’s brothers
- James Stewart (1723-1817), named for his father’s brothers
- David Stewart (1724-1798), named for his father’s brothers

Using this pattern, I set out to find a generationally correct “Ballintoy Stewart family unit” that would fit this structure. This fit would be recognized if the following was true:

- Lazarus’s parents would be - William and Margaret
- Lazarus’s paternal grandfather would be - John
- Lazarus’s maternal grandfather would need to be a – Lazarus (named through the mother’s father naming tradition)
- Lazarus assumed father “William” would need an accounting for his name

After rotating through the Ballintoy family units, I found a reasonable fit under “John Stewart of Ballintoy 1630-1691” (the 9th named Stewart below) as follows:

Robert II, King of Scots (1316-1390)
John Stewart Sheriff of Bute, Arran and Cumbrae (1356-1441)
William Stewart of Fennock, 3rd Sheriff of Bute and Arran (1408-1464)
James Stewart of Kilcattan, 4th Sheriff of Bute and Arran (1450-1477)
Ninian Stewart of Ardmaleish, 6th Sheriff of Bute and Arran (1468-1539)
Archibald John Stewart of Largizean (1508-1600)
James Stewart (1542-1600)
----- Earliest residents of Ballintoy -----
David Stewart of Ballintoy (1585-1630)
John Stewart of Ballintoy (1630-1691)
----- Suppositional placement of William and Margaret from deeds -----
William Stewart (1660-)
Lazarus Stewart (1683-1744)

Reference the following patchwork image to see the hypothesis:
https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000215001694861&...

In this image you will see the following:

[1] Lazarus’s father’s father is a “John”

[2] Lazarus’s father is a “William”

[3] Lazarus’s father (likely a second son) mother’s father is a “William”

[5] Lazarus’s mother is a “Margaret,” which is why they named their second daughter “Margery” due to the conflict that was created in the first daughter being named after her mother’s mother (i.e., Margaret Harris, not shown).

[6] And for the kicker, I believe Lazarus’s mother was a “Lowery.” The Lowery’s had the Lazarus name in their structure, and parts of this family were living only a few miles from “Lifford” (the Deed location) in the later 1600s per trees and a PRONI reference. In addition, “Lazarus Lowry 1688-1755” was a neighbor of our Lazarus Stewart in Pennsylvania, and if I’m correct, a 1C1R. I also found that this line of Lowry’s married into a segment of “Margaret Steuart’s” (Lazarus’s wife) family line, specifically George Stewart.

From a trace DNA evidence perspective, I have traceable hits on the “Hogg” and “Lowry” connections back to Ireland/Scotland. Still, as we know, that is dangerous territory to base suppositions on, so again, I used it only to cancel out family lines.

Please let me know your thoughts and whether you view this as something that deserves additional investigation.

Regards,

George

George, I think your logic works very well. Yes, I also looked for unusually used names like Lazarus. I found similar unusual names in the ancestors of the Stewarts of Fort Stewart, Ireland which is one of the "uncle" lines of Margaret wife of Lazarus. So I searched deeply for any Lazarus in that Stewart family. Couldn't find one nor any female connection to Bute or Ballintoy. So you have done well to find some more named Lazarus possibly near our Lazarus. So yes all that deserves investigation. And finding a family line of Bute/Ballintoy which gets way done very close to Lazarus is real progress too. I looked at that Ninian line to Archibald to James to David and saw the end at John. Therefore that dead end at John no doubt has an extention down to further generations coming from the House of Balintoy and Stewart. I was delayed replying to you by others making me make decisions about my mother's maiden name, Brewer family from Chard, Somerset ancestry. The Brewers keep on working on that line and have one weak link. But the YDNA Snp pathway is quite proven and established with 20 BigY700 testers with mutual SNP's going back to 1619 in London, England.

And I also checked out the Lifford Parish area and looked for William there. It all looked like a likely match.

I seem to remember I looked actually for John Stewart from Ballintoy and if he might have anything to do with Lifford Ireland or any son of his to Lifford. That still needs to be looked for. Thanks. Allen

I found an interesting reference to a "John Stewart" in Lifford in 1665 when John would have been 35. It's as follows:

From Proni:

D683/163
1 December 1664
Instrument appointing John Stewart, Master of Lifford School - Signed by members of the corporation and by parishioners.

D683/164
1 June 1665
Richard Perkins, Lifford, to George, Bishop of Derry. Notifying appointment of John Stewart as master of Lifford School - With copy reply of Bishop

D683/165
4 June 1665
Richard Perkins, Lifford, to George, Bishop of Derry. Reply to Notifying appointment of John Stewart as master of Lifford School - With copy reply of Bishop.

What makes this somewhat credible is that this school is associated with the Church of Ireland. And although the Bishop of Derry appears to be over this school through the reference of Bishop George Wilde, the neighboring Bishop in Raphoe was a "Leslie."

Charles Leslies father was the Bishop of Raphoe a few years before this point but was given an honary position in the Irish house of commons and a large pension.

My point: we recognize that the Leslie's were connected with the Stewart's through the found documents. So, it's plausible and likely that the connection goes back years and to this point.

George

To get more information, we will need to engage the Proni copying service and pay a fee to have a digitized copy made.

Yes, to get more information would be worthwhile. So we are looking for a William Stewart or any Stewart coming from the generation following John Stewart/ So what would be the fee they charge/ I am a member of the Irish History/parish records and have consulted that before. I forget their fee. But their records for that area of Northern Ireland mostly only were from the largest Church of Ireland church in Londonderry.

I have submitted an inquiry regarding these three records.

They should reply with the cost to get a digital copy.

However, it could take three weeks to get a reply.

I also found a Proni reference to the will of James Lowry in 1668 from Ballymagorry, which is only a few miles from Lifford.

These are the Lowry's that I conjecture had a "Margaret" who married William.

The Proni reference is: D3007/T/577

I've also made an inquiry regarding this document as well.

Outstanding work, George. Well done.

I love this discussion, thank you both. Lazarus Stewart is my 8th ggf. My ancestor, his daughter, Margery Stewart Young, named a son William also.

Hatte Rubenstein Blejer,

Can you provide me with your list of Margery Stewart Young's children? I didn't know there was a William in there.

George

I see that we have two children for Margery on Geni and that we do not have much info on Margery's husband line, so we do not know for sure who William was named after.

I do my conjecture work on Ancestry.com and had thought that i had her children in sync with Geni, but i did not. I should check before asking such a question :)

I did not add William. I add children whom I have found reliable evidence for. Given how common a name William Young is, this child needs to be verified. Many users attach ancestors to the wrong parents, either because they are copying some Internet tree or because they can't accept having a tree that dead ends.

http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/history/family/runk-7-youn...

Here is presumably reliable information on the Young family of Hanover.

William was a child of Margery Stewart Young. But the last son.

III. JOHN YOUNG (Robert), of Hanover, d. in May, 1775, leaving a
wife Margery (Stewart), and children:

        i.  David. 
       ii.  Mary, m. James Dixon. 
      iii.  Margaret, m. Samuel Ainsworth.
       iv.  John. 
        v.  Margery.
       vi.  George. 
      vii.  James. 
   6.viii.  William, m. Martha _____. 

I have made some findings related to the Lazarus Stewart / Charles Leslie Court Record from February 24, 1721, executed at the Ireland Exchequer Court of Equity in Dublin, Ireland.

Although I still do not understand Lazarus’s role, I have been able to piece together the context of the hearing. Unfortunately, the records burnt up in 1922 during the Irish Civil War; hence, we will unlikely find the exacting details we desire. That said, here’s what I have learned.

Charles had made enemies in parliament, primarily the Whigs, whom he battled through his publications. Still, he also angered many of the Tories when he supposedly crossed the line through his track “The Good Old Cause,” which triggered the charge of treason and his warrant. That said, he did have many supporters, but essential to this story, there was a “parcel of Whigs” or, better stated, “opportunists” who kept a watchful eye on Charles’ family, friends, and assets after the warrant.

One specific opportunist was “Charles Campbell” who was an MP known to love the forfeiture laws, as he (and others) would “scoop in” and grab properties for pennies on the dollar (i.e., pound sterling) from the “Commission for Sale of Forfeited Estate Lands.” Charles Campbell and other opportunists are listed as the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Charles avoided capture for 10 years until the King pardoned him. From my estimation, for the first 3 years, he was hiding under the noses of his antagonizers in the Kingdom (primarily in Ireland), frustrating their efforts to find him (a role I believe Lazarus was involved in). For the last 7 years, he was under the protection of the Stuart Pretender’s court and their state sponsor (France and then later Italy). Although his antagonizers knew where he was then, they could do nothing but make it difficult for Charles’ extended family, who was still in Ireland.

One significant problem with being on the run is that “you are not making any income.” In addition, by law, an “outlaw” forfeits their properties and assets. So, Charles and his companions had to live off the generosity of the Stuart pretender’s court, Loans from friends, and gifts, and from what I have read, Charles had expensive taste, at least, that was the statement from those who loaned him money.

Charles’s brother “John Leslie, Dean of Dromore.” Inherited “Castle Leslie and the estates” when their father “John Leslie, the fighting Bishop” died. However, with Charles “on the run and out of financial commission,” John did not have enough income to maintain the properties, so he took out loans and sold some properties (e.g., Memorial 3602 in January 1712) to make things work. This correlated to the period when I believe Charles was hiding and living with Lazarus in Lifford.

Unfortunately, the MP opportunist (apparently) caught wind of this transaction and likely believed that John was helping fund Charles’s “on the run” escapades (maybe he was). Hence, they upped their game and somehow “called in the debts of John Leslie” and inserted themselves into the mix (reference memorial 4771 in Dec of 1713).

However, their determined prize was “Castle Leslie,” which they could not legally confiscate, but father time favored them, and in early February 1721, “John Leslie, Dean of Dromore,” passed away. With haste, they filed a lawsuit against Charles and his family, including Lazarus (which we don’t know why), as they knew that Charles Leslie would now inherit the Castle and Estates.

They must have pulled some strings, as the time between John’s death and the court hearing date was less than a month.

Fortunately, Charles had already been working on resolving his financial problems by having friends put together a two-folio publication of his theological works (something that had been in the works for five years). Although the publication wasn’t ready when he heard of the lawsuit, it was put into high gear so that he could get funds to fight the legal battle. It was a success, and five hundred members of the lords and commons purchased the “Jacobite outlaw” work, earning him 750 pounds ($175,000 in today’s USD).

The Pardon from the King also came in, and Charles went to fight the lawsuit.

The result of the lawsuit (for Charles, again, we do not understand Lazarus’ role) was that he got to go home to “Castle Leslie” in Ireland, where he died in April 1722. However, the Whig opportunists were also happy as they got funded through a mortgaging transaction, which indebted Robert Leslie (Charle’s son) to pay off the castle and estate over many years to “William McCausland,” who funded the transaction. The mortgage was paid off in 1738 (reference memorial 38389).

Of interest in this memorial is that it was witnessed by “Robert Lowry,” who, through my previous speculation regarding Lazarus’ parents, would be a great uncle. He was interestingly the “Commissioner for Escheated (confiscated) Land in counties Tyrone and Armagh,” which borders the county of Monaghan where Castle Leslie resides.

George

Interesting, George. Yes, the 1722 death of Charles Leslie would have set up the circumstances which moved Lazarus away from the United Kingdom. So he migrated on to Pennsylvania and returned to his more natural allegiance to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. Thanks.

Should have said "which moved Lazarus from Europe....." I just cannot picture Lazarus being an ardent Jacobite, especially in doctrine. Oh well.

New Finding:

I have received the documents (i.e., letters) related to "John Stewart of Lifford" who was presented to the Bishop for the position of "Master of Lifford School." (Reference above)

I requested / ordered the documents to see if they, by chance, would state who this John Stewart was. As I hoped it might be "John Stewart of Ballintoy" who I have conjectured to be the Grandfather of Lazarus, as we know Lazarus owned a home in Lifford per the deed I've previously referenced.

Believe it or not, the letters state, or more specifically the Bishop states that this is "John Stewart of Ballintoy!!!"

This, in my book is 90% confirmation, combined with the naming pattern study and the Y-DNA that we have a genealogical path from Lazarus to "John Stewart, Sheriff of Bute" and then to "Robert II."

Erica Howton and Gary Allen Singleton. I can post the imagery showing the Bishops statement. But my question is this, "do we have enough soft-evidence to make the links i have proposed?

George

Here's the line I proposed with some additional information:

  • Robert II, King of Scots, 1316-1390. [SNP-Z38845]
  • John Stewart Sheriff of Bute, Arran and Cumbrae, 1356-1441 [SNP-FTT46 or after]
  • William Stewart of Fennock, 3rd Sheriff of Bute and Arran, 1408-1464 [Y14197 or after]
  • James Stewart of Kilcattan, 4th Sheriff of Bute and Arran, 1450-1477 [Y14198 or after]
  • Ninian Stewart of Ardmaleish, 6th Sheriff of Bute and Arran, 1468-1539
-- Archibald rebelled and forfeited his lands in 1546, and left Scotland in 1559.
-- He came to Dunservick Ireland about five miles west of Ballintoy Harbor
-- He later moved to the next parish over where Ballintoy Harbor resides.
  • Archibald John Stewart of Largizean, 1508-1600
  • James Stewart, 1542-1600
-- Earliest residents of Ballintoy.
-- A grant from Randal MacDonnell in 1625 provided the lands for Ballintoy Castle.
  • David Stewart of Ballintoy, 1585-1630
  • John Stewart of Ballintoy, 1630-1691
-- Suppositional placement of William and Margaret from deeds **
  • William Stewart of Lifford, 1660-? (William & Margaret Stewart from Lazarus Deed)
  • Lazarus Stewart, 1683-1744

I have put the above image for immediate reference only, such that Erica Howton can review.

Being a PRONI image, I do not have the right to post without their explicit permission, so I will remove it after our discussion.

Thanks. Be sure and add the reference to relevant profiles.

Yes, George, I agree with Erica. Go ahead and put William Stewart of Ballintoy (and wife Margaret) in there as son and daughter-in-law of John of Ballintoy. The bishop confirms that David Stewart to John Stewart, both of Ballintoy were also then connected to Lifford Parish, Ireland. Then William and Margaret are also proved to own property in Lifford Parish. Finally Lazarus Stewart companion of Charles Leslie from abroad returned to Lifford, Ireland to sign document of land ownership in Lifford from his father and mother. Finally the YDNA of current all male descendants of Lazarus is an exact match in all the SNP markers going all the way up the line to John Stewart the Sherriff of Bute. It helps of course that the line from John Stewart of Ballintoy going all the way back to Bute is already posted on the Geni World Trees and is well known and accepted. Congratulations, George, and all descendants of Lazarus of Pennsylvania. b1683. And thanks, Erica for looking at this over the years.

Erica Howton I initiated a merge that I believe will make the connection to John Stewart of Ballintoy through a newly added William Stewart. Can you review and approve?

Done. I added this citation to profiles William Stewart William Stewart and John Stewart, of Ballintoy

References

  1. "Lazarus Stewart, Sr. - Hypothesis: [1] Lazarus line of descent from Robert II, King of Scots, [2] How Lazarus received his name" Geni discussion (George Raymond Freeman et al, 2/5/2025) (discussion tab of [https://www.geni.com/people/Lazarus-Stewart-Sr/6000000011624098689 Lazarus Stewart, Sr. profile])

Thank you Erica Howton!!

I am so sorry that my mother is not still living to see the above lineage from Robert II, King of Scots!

I feel the same way.

My mother, a Stewart had heard the passed down stories, and of course had all the relevant "Stewart Clan Magazine" article snippets related to our line.

She would travel to different states, Georgia, Arkansas, and visit distant relatives looking for clues, trying to find evidence documenting the Lazarus connection.

She passed 19 years ago, and I took over her files, but i didnt start working the Stewart linel seriously until a few years ago. Without the Y-DNA it would be almost impossible to make the connections as it works as a compass for proving conjectures.

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